For his work promoting equality, Allentown's Adrian Shanker, of Equality PA, was named Person of the Year by Philadelphia Gay News.

Along with exceutive director Ted Martin, who lives in Camp Hill, the newspaper credited Shanker with being instrumental in getting eight municipalities to approve LGBT nondiscrimination ordinances.

Shanker became board president in September. Prior to that, he was the vice president of the Pennsylvania Diversity Network, which led the effort to pass Bethlehem’s nondiscrimination ordinance this year, as well as domestic-partner measures in Allentown and Easton.

In lauding the two activists, the Philadelphia Gay News writes:

Equality PA leadership was present at nearly all council hearings and meetings on the proposals and, in many instances, worked closely with local lawmakers to craft the language for the ordinances, as well as raise awareness about the importance of such measures.

“They are certainly two of the most critical players statewide that have worked on these ordinances,” said Brian Sims, former Equality PA board president. “If they weren’t leading the effort in one municipality, they were second-behind the local leaders providing support. Their imprint is on every one of the municipal nondiscrimination ordinances that were passed this year.”

Following this year’s victories, Pennsylvania is now home to 26 municipalities that ban LGBT discrimination.

Equality PA has remained dedicated to heightening that number, offering vocal leadership to areas considering adopting their own measures, such as Cheltenham, and continuing to work with municipalities like Abington that have stalled proposals.

Andy Hoover, legislative director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, said the agency’s plan to advance LGBT equality at the local level, given the long-stalled statewide LGBT nondiscrimination bill, has been a purposeful and effective one.

“Ted and Adrian and all of the folks at Equality PA have been very strategic and very smart about where they’re putting their efforts,” Hoover said. “They’re finding the places that they know they can win and have been able to take it outside of Southeastern Pennsylvania to places like Susquehanna and Bethlehem. These ordinances are going to be really important to the future of LGBT equality in Pennsylvania.”